Not that anyone is surprised, but the MPAA officially handed down their rating for Steve McQueen’s controversial new film Shame, and ladies and gents…it’s not an R rating. I don’t think this is as big a hurt to the flick as it might be to others, but we shall see. Here’s the story from The Hollywood Reporter on the announcement:
Shame, British director Steve McQueen’s portrait of a sex addict, starring Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, has officially received an NC-17 rating from the MPAA’s Classification and Rating Administration.
In its latest batch of ratings notices, released Tuesday, the MPAA said that the drama, which Fox Searchlight will release Dec. 2, earned the rating because of “some explicit sexual content.”
While that makes the movie off-limits to anyone under the age of 18, Searchlight is not planning to appeal the rating or make any cuts to secure a less restrictive R-rating. Instead, it’s readying a major awards push for the film.
“I think NC-17 is a badge of honor, not a scarlet letter. We believe it is time for the rating to become usable in a serious manner,” Searchlight president Steve Gilula has told The Hollywood Reporter. “The sheer talent of the actors and the vision of the filmmaker are extraordinary. It’s not a film that everyone will take easily, but it certainly breaks through the clutter and is distinctive and original. It’s a game changer.”
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Tags: Carey Mulligan, Michael Fassbender, MPAA Ratings, NC-17, Oscar hopeful, Shame, Steve McQueen
16 Comments
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I’m cautiously optimistic that this could be the type of film to not die because of the rating…
Joey Magidson(Quote) (Reply)
I think there is an audience that wants to see it … but I don’t think the rating will win over very many fuddy-duddies who stroll into a local metroplex looking for a Saturday afternoon trifle. (and good … it isn’t meant for them [I still recall the gasps in the audience b/c of the frank dialogue in Closer])
The only thing the rating will do is keep it from showing any wider than they wanted to show it … it is pure art house circuit now (or at least here in the midwest). There is an awareness to the film already — Fassbender and Mulligan are two stars on the rise … and look at the talk it’s getting already. But I do question whether or not any non-cinephiles will have this on their ‘must-see’ lists. What’ll keep it alive outside of NYC and LA is if it becomes an awards darling.
Thomas(Quote) (Reply)
It was never playing anywhere but the specialty theaters, so it doesn’t make a huge difference overall. The precursors will help it or kill it, regardless.
Joey Magidson(Quote) (Reply)
Here in the midwest — because of the lack of art house cinemas (KC has one 3-screen theater and 3 1-screen theaters that aren’t always – cough, cough -arthouse) AMC theaters (HQ’d here in KC) will offer two screens in their megaplexes for the more hard-to-find films like this one (thank the lord); but this rating will keep it out of these these chains now. That is my lament. I’ll have to drive 45 minutes one way to see it now … and here in KC that is a fairly long distance to watch a movie as we have mega-theaters every 5 miles.
Thomas(Quote) (Reply)
The anguish of the midwest…
Joey Magidson(Quote) (Reply)
Anguish? The Cards just came back and won game 6! No anguish …
Thomas(Quote) (Reply)
I’m a Met fan…nothing but anguish here.
Joey Magidson(Quote) (Reply)
Or somehow, some way raise attention to the hypocrisy of CARA and the MPAA.
Michael Ward(Quote) (Reply)
That’d be ideal, if a long shot. The saving grace for this film in a way is actually likely going to be how little print advertising matters these days. A savvy internet campaign (awareness on the film is high already) can keep it from losing the marketing it needs to go the distance and be profitable as well.
Joey Magidson(Quote) (Reply)
Hahaha… Riddle: I can think of only one actor who received an Oscar nomination for a role in which he displayed frontal nudity… Anyone have a guess?
Mikael(Quote) (Reply)
I think I know, but I’ll refrain…any takers?
Joey Magidson(Quote) (Reply)
Does his name begin with a V?
Thomas(Quote) (Reply)
Nope… Who is it you thought of?
Mikael(Quote) (Reply)
Oh! Viggo of course… damn… there is male frontal nudity in that film, isn´t there? Well, in that case, then there´s two… His name starts with a J
Mikael(Quote) (Reply)
Yes, I was thinking of Viggo for Eastern Promises. I have only seen it once and I scored it a B+ … but have just never sat down to watch it again. I guessed at that … I am not sure if HE goes full frontal or not in it. I just remember the two man nude bathhouse bloody brawl in the middle of it. I couldn’t tell you for certain if he showed his or not. Sorry … I was guessing with it.
Is yours Javier? Again … I only say Biutiful one time too. He was great; but the movie wasn’t as good I had wanted it to be (it got a B-) … I think I recall there being flesh on display; but (again) I am not certain.
Wow .. this might say something. I am becoming de-sensitized (sp?) to male nudity too!
Thomas(Quote) (Reply)
I tend to think Viggo goes full frontal in Eastern Promises; I remember at the time this was a big deal. The one I´m thinking of almost counts as a she/he: Jaye Davidson in “The Crying Game”… Best Supporting Actor in 1993. There´s nothing more frontal than that!
Mikael(Quote) (Reply)